© UNICEF Iraq/2008/Arar
A girl walks through the rubble of her destroyed classroom at the Baghdad Primary School in Sadr City.

NEW YORK, USA, 15 September 2008 – The ongoing conflict in Iraq continues to have a devastating impact on children and schools there. Insecurity and violence have forced teachers to flee, kept students at home and, in some cases, closed schools completely.

A girl cries during a commemorative gathering for students who were killed when their school collapsed during the earthquake in Sichuan Province, China.
© UNICEF/ HQ08-0551/Dea

NEW YORK, USA, 25 June 2008 – With an estimated 10,000 child fatalities from school collapses in the Sichuan earthquake in China, safe school construction has become a central issue for parents, governments and the international development community.

Young people comprise over half of Rwanda’s population, but poverty, food insecurity, HIV/AIDS and the lingering effects of genocide continue to threaten children's welfare and development.
© UNICEF/ HQ07-1367/Pirozzi

By Gabrielle Galanek

NEW YORK, USA, 8 May 2008 – Exactly one month ago, Rwanda commemorated the 14th anniversary of its genocide. By this time in 1994, half a million Rwandans had already been killed in an ethnic-cleansing campaign.

Liberian Minister of Gender H.E. Vabah Gayflor (left) and World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda take part in a UNICEF Radio discussion on gender equality in education.
© UNICEF/2008/Kamimura

By Gabrielle Galanek

NEW YORK, USA, 29 April 2008 – At the 52nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women last month, global leaders met to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing women and girls today. The theme this year was financing for gender equality and empowerment of women.

© UNICEF/NYHQ1999-0377/Jeremy HornerNobel Peace Prize Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta addresses participants during a roundtable discussion at The Hague Appeal for Peace conference in 1999.

Providing education to children in regions and societies affected by conflict – or emerging from it – is a major challenge. Yet communities in conflict-affected areas consistently rank education as a high priority. And they demonstrate astounding resourcefulness and resilience in seeking out and providing schooling for their children.

© UNICEF/2007/Galanek
Podcast moderator Amy Costello hosts a UNICEF Radio discussion with 13-year-old Duhabo Goleecha of Kenya (left) and other guests.

NEW YORK, USA, 19 December 2007 – Providing education to children in regions and societies affected by conflict – or emerging from it – is a major challenge. Yet communities in conflict-affected areas consistently rank education as a high priority. And they demonstrate astounding resourcefulness and resilience in seeking out and providing schooling for their children.